11/12/2016

Singapore’s perilous dance with the USA

Singapore’s diplomacy and dance in the world stage suffered a double whammy with the election of Duterte and Donald Trump as presidents. Duterte’s refusal to play the role of American barking dog scuttled a well choreographed conspiracy led by the Americans and the Japanese and supported by the Little USAs against China. The game was to badmouth China, strangle its activities in the South China Sea and the containment of China in the international arena.

And then came Donald Trump who has pledged to drop the TPP, a pet peeve of Singapore as if its whole economy and future depended on it. If this is so, this would really be troubling time for Singapore as the last hope for economic recovery in a sagging economy would see its last flicker of light snuffed out by Trump.

What should Singapore do, send its two most vocal and powerful diplomats to Washington, to tell Trump how good the TPP is to the Americans? And add to that, to tell the Americans how good and useful Singapore has been to the USA and its pivot to Asia, and how important a role Singapore has or had played in support of American political and military actions everywhere, in particular the wars in the Middle East?

The raising of Singapore’s relationship with the US to a strategic partnership level, wonder what that means, culminating in a White House dinner in honour of the PM by Obama, reached an euphoric state with Singaporeans feeling so proud of the achievement and honour bestowed to their PM. Unlike in Malaysia, there is no charge or allegation of Singapore being ‘sold off’ to the Americans. In Malaysia, the opposition accused the govt of a ‘sell off’ to Chinese interests with the pivot or tilt towards China. The Channel 8 Singaporeans are not feeling uneasy and did not think that their interests have been sold out by the Channel 5 Singaporeans to the USA.

To be sure, it would be a mistake to cast Singapore’s cosy relations with the US as a zero sum game in the game of big power politics as doing so would ignore the deep fundamental relationship between Singapore and Beijing. There are strong historical people to people relationship as well as newly built economic partnership and Singapore’s support of the AIIB and OBOR.

While the US believed in a strong and constructive relationship with China, the same logic should apply to Singapore having a strong relationship with China and the USA.

The implications of Hsien Loong’s visit to the US, to Japan, India and Australia and how would these impact on the viability of the TPP and the American pivot to Asia would only come to light after Trump took office in a few months down the line. Would it bear fruits or would the fruit be still born is yet to tell. With no due disrespect, the trips by Hsien Loong would not have the same impact as that of LKY in his time but more a continuation of what LKY had paved in the past, a continuation of LKY’s legacy.

The elevation of Singapore US relations to a new high is not without challenges and risks for the two countries. Did the Americans learn anything from their fiasco with the Philippines, with poking in the domestic affairs of Thailand and Malaysia that have backfired? The increasing profile and meddling of the Americans in the SCS would not only come under scrutiny but would only raise tension that sensible Asean states would not want as it would destabilize the region. Many Asean countries have seen what and how the Americans were doing behind closed doors to agitate the Asean countries to go against China in the SCS. This kind of offensive meddling of Asean and regional affairs must have raised eyebrows and caution among the Asean states as to what the Evil Empire is capable of doing and has been doing all these years.

The Americans are jumping into the region to exploit the overlapping island claims by China and some Asean states, to stoke the fire to benefit from the tension and counter claims. Their attempt to front up for the Philippines had hit a blank wall and similarly facing the same fate with the other Asean claimant states.

In this context, the close relations between Singapore and the USA could backfire and become a liability when the Americans failed in what they wanted to do, and with Trump coming into the picture, the adventure of American intervention in the SCS as well as the TPP to contain China would simply fall flat. It would be an ironic twist if Singapore has to turn towards China to rebuild ties when the USA under Trump turns isolationist.

While the English educated Straits born are still thinking that they are in charge and could ignore the Chinese educated and those that still have favourable views of China, they really did not have a clue how these groups, the so called Channel 8 Singaporeans really think with the leaning towards the US and less friendly towards China. This could be a potential crisis awaiting to happen with the Americans pushing too hard in the SCS leading to open hostility and forcing the Channel 8 Singaporeans to take sides. Would the ruling govt still be able to count on the support of the Channel 8 people that form the bulk of its political base?

While the ascendency of Trump as the next American President takes centre stage and his isolationist policies take shape, how would these affect the military alliances with the Asean states and the relations with the Little USAs? Would Trump start to reverse the Asia pivot, reduce American military presence in the region? Or would there be a turnaround and Trump turns aggressive and pushing a fight with China in the SCS? How would the close military relationship between Singapore and the US play out in the big power rivalry? Would there be arm twisting by the Americans for Singapore to send military forces to patrol in the SCS or to support American provocations against China?

For sure, Hsien Loong has brought Singapore much closer to the USA than LKY whose legacy was to balance the interests of superpowers without having to take sides. The new Singapore US relationship is not necessary a bad thing as it is also Singapore’s policy to be friendly to all powers, except this time a bit more explicit in being more pro Americans. However, with the pushy Americans, at least under the Obama regime in his pivot to Asia, Singapore’s less than neutral position between China and the USA would become a distinct disadvantage when it comes to dealings with the Chinese and to clinch more economic deals especially in the OBOR Project. There would definitely be some expectations from the Americans as well as the Chinese for Singapore to toe the line with the sensitivity of the SCS situation and the competition for influence.

Singapore must be careful as the Americans could withhold the privileges for training grounds and military aids while Singapore still needs to secure China’s economic lifeline to solve the problems facing a slowing economy. Singapore is in a conundrum. How would Singapore maintain its political and strategic neutrality as it grows more dependent on American military support while becoming more dependent on China economically and for trade?

Different take here. I think what many are too focused on is the cancellation of the TPP. Well, for some time now Singapore probably realized that there is at least a 40% if not 50-50 chance that the TPP will be cancelled, or at least renegotiated. But the above writer has a point. He said he has no doubt that Trump will love us. "Love" is probably too strong a word but even if Trump is against the TPP, why would he abandon Asia and Singapore? He has nothing else to hate here. Singapore Inc, the country run like a corporation, has a lot to offer Trump the businessman. We will just negotiate another agreement with him, on terms that he can be happy with, that's all.

As for China, Singapore also knows for some time that China is embarking on a one belt one road initiative. It is not all of a sudden. The problem here is that too many see it in terms of Channel 5 and Channel 8. It is not a zero sum game.

This is also evidenced by whats going on elsewhere. Malaysia has continued to let the US fly spy plane missions out of its bases to the South China Sea. Durtete, well it seems Durtete did not like Democrats but he seems very happy to call the US friends again now that Trump is elected. I can see why Durtete had to do what he had to do because he was so deprived from benefits of cooperation with China until now. This is something that we never had to worry about. Not with Xi Jin Ping at the helm as I mentioned before.

The danger is viewing it as a zero sum game, which by my take, Singapore is smart enough never to have done.

"Singapore must be careful as the Americans could withhold the privileges for training grounds and military aids while Singapore still needs to secure China’s economic lifeline to solve the problems facing a slowing economy."RB

Why would the Americans want to withhold the privileges for training grounds and military aids to Singapore when they can make money from it? These things are not free, u know. In fact, the Americans may now even want to make more money by asking for higher prices for training grounds and military aids for Singapore!

And Singapore may have to lan lan (no choice) pay for the higher prices. Or perhaps delay CPF withdrawal further for this purpose. So Sinkies may have to work until 80 years old!

I asked young teen what Trump win meant. The reply was hard time. RB sum up with the anon 10:37pm as conclusion. On looking at micro level, Trump will create a safer world for trade than Obama+Hillary.I was hoping Trump win. Big reason behind was from wikilead emai: Hillary was well aware ISIS was funded by Qarta and Saudi. Hillary in email allowed the weapons to be passed to her "moderate" ISIS militants. That is to fuel fighting in middle east, unended wars.Obama still support the ISIS in Aleppo to fight against Syrain army to take back their own territory taken by ISIS "moderate". The war is still going on, with mistakes made by US to bomb Syrian army. Now Putin stands up and Obama keeps quiet.

With Hillary win, it will be this kind of world. Wasting resources to misdirect productive lives towards warfares, weapons, and in Singapore, was over the rights to own South China Sea. The ownership was bestowed after second world war in 1945. Yet Singapore wants to have a say who own SCS, citing the Philippine Tribunal as "strong and powerful" international laws. This means war with PLA which claims war is their jobs. It was lucky to me that Trump won. Its common sense to me. The US voters are no stupid fools, knowing what i have described above. Hillary being the elite produces nothing, except smoke screens to cover the poor to poorer state of average americans standard of living. This little dot was following the same game. Divert the attention of pains on hunger to some smokes. These elites finally face the fact. Some businessman like Trump put a stop to it.

Trump asks the elites to: get down to job to create jobs for average voters.

This is hard job to idle elites like to be spot lighted. Same as little dot. They used to say this to pass time: if dont allow foreigners to take the jobs, firms would move to china. Now the main media simply change to move to vietnam. Globalization is unstoppable to them. It is a bluff for easy jobs. One word is globalization, one side is war, can put the average foolish voters to pass their whole lives being poor to poorer, yet do not know why and blame someone they trusted and voted.

Trump is willing to take the hard work. Are little dot politicians also willing to do?

Read washington post, it said hours ago. The congressman Schumer told labor leaders that Republican Leaders had told him TPP was dead. They are not going to do it. Obama will not get an inch forward on TPP.

TPP to little dot is nothing. It almost has free trade agreement with all 11 countries. DO NOT blame on TPP if economy falls. The bluff is that: if TPP jalan, japanese cars will sell more to US. Do you believe it will? I do not. May be more US cars will sell to some other countries and never pass Singapore port. Even to China, goods from US may not pass Singapore port in future. Port Klang is expanding hundred km to carter for China cargo and the port will be run by China chinese probably. Inland in malaya cargo will ship through China made high speed rail to Port Klang.

How come Singapore is left out? That s can be the scenario. Even teens know it. Hard time ahead, unless politicians get down to work to rectify their mistakes. Dont blame TPP to waste time. There are far too many free trade agreements for Singapore. Jobs for citizens are yet to be good. Agree?

We need more Channel 8 ministers in the Singapore cabinet, in part to stall the strong pivot towards India, and rebalance towards China. But we don't seem to have any Channel 8 people at ministerial level . . .

70% support can shift around to 2017 will be solid. It was suppose to be GE in 2017.

A funeral received good participation resulted the GE shifted to 2015. Next funeral must be planned in 2020. It will be much grander. Hopefully can get 70%. But Hilliary s defeat showed voters talk economic, not sentiment, certainly not Trump s pussy talk will affect the votes. In Singapore, i guess it will be money and jobs, no money no talk in 2020, unless someone can plan for a similar funeral and hold election after it 6 month later.

Singapore, to the US, be it Bush Administration, Clinton Administration, Obama Administration or Trump's Administration, is nothing but a sucker to be used and exploited to the fullest in terms of US National and Global Interests. Period.

What the dead dictator Lee or the present cancer-stricken Lee could/can do was/is the same Master-Slave Relationship - of pandering to the whims and fancies of the Only Super Power in the World and hope to be accepted under its Umbrella of Protection - militarily, economically and politically.

Internally, it is all just a Hollywood Show to allay the fear of his own subservient and clueless people whose only aspiration in life is to be able to make ends meet and bring bread to the table for their children.

TCB is not and has never dare work against LHL. 1 solid evidence: when social media spread the EP new bill was to bar TCB from standing. What TCB said: he urged people not to jump to that conclusion.

In my eyes, TCB is PAP and PAP is TCB. But TCB may not be LHL, whereas LHL is PAP and PAP is totally LHL.

Stop advertising for TCB to advertise for PAP.

PAP will face the voters by 2020GE. Last quarter Q3 the GDP dropped 4.1%. Haha. U think TCB want to be EP?

1 Q can have -4.1%, its good result, 4 Q is projected to be 16.1% minus. Last half year was 9.1% minus.

Under LHL s PAP, the economy is going at -10% or more. U thnk TCB is senile, too old to read economic %?

TCB will RUN off. He will never want to be the poor small country s "Honorable chairman" while LHL is the CEO. It is shameful to be a losing money company chairman. TCB has been chairman. He does choose which one to go. Correct?

Very hard to find Channel 8 oppositions. Most oppositions are always those ang moh westernized types pushing for things like death penalty and gay marriage. Or in the past, abolishment of ISA.

Low Thia Khiang is a Channel 8 type but he has surrounded his party with the more westernized kinds also like Pritam and Show Mao. Perhaps one possibility is Goh Meng Seng but that guy is a frog more interested in attacking the WP.

And I agree with Anon 1:33. TCB is PAP through and through. If not he would be like Tan Jee Say by now.

I must share my observation. The elitist camp like Obama, Hillary, Bill Clinton strongly believe they and no body else are fit to be in presidency. These people used languages to discredit opponents to be unfit by pointing out on ill behavior as a total personality weakness.

Trump on the other hand, has not been an elitist element, though he travels by his own jet marked Trump. Trump has been bankrupt twice, and started as army trainee and turned into sales of real estate. The languages he used about pussy in talk with men was common in army boys. In NS it was common too. But the unethical reporter Bill Bush sold the tape to Washington post. Bill Bush was in CNN. Can we see the unethical practices taken against Trump? Trump did not say those stuff in white house dinner correct?

Trump s language is very common in US on line TV using 4 or 5 letters words. But the elistes Obama Hillary turned that to be his character flaws. To me, it is not. It is the CULTURE problem. Similar to Hillary would play classical music at home dinner, while Trump will play metallic hard rock.

Another CULTURE about Trump is his involvement in Wrestling WWF. He went up the stage to mess around and got kicked down being pull away. This kind of people never use FUCK PUUSY when talking man and man in changing room?

So US is divided. U can see the illegal Mexicans in US now waving flags of Mexico, with muslims to protest Trump being president. High sounding universities students protesting against his presidency. California claims it wants independent to avoid Trump. All high sounding elitist thinking the world will collapse with a "rough" men or lau chor, in Hokkien, being president.

What is the point to have presidential election when after it, there are protests against the results. Trump went passed the 270 target, Hillary stayed at 228 far below the 270 target. Yet these high sounding elites, illegal migrants, muslims and more, are unhappy with Trump.

In Singapore, the voters are the rough lau chor to be looked down by the elites who claimed they are the best in the world division one. Yet their delivery was stagnant salary for 20 years, millions of foreigners, survivable salary jobs are hard to come by. Elites are human lau chor are human. The difference is: who is more assertive. Trump is assertive or kwai lan in Hokkien. Hillary Obama will never allowed non elitist or lau chor to get near to their class.

The same applies to Singapore. The elites will keep their jobs for further elites. Ordinary family men want to get near. They will repel with all kinds of tactics as we can observe in US now. Elites are terrible class. In history, they are often the oppressive group.

TPP:this is final.Reuters said 11 Friday"U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has suspended its efforts to win congressional approval for his Asian free-trade deal before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, saying on Friday that TPP's fate was up to Trump and Republican lawmakers."

Even if you believe he is different, his Republican senators are not. As are the people whom he appoints on his team. They will advise him in their own interest and in many cases, he LL just will follow them.

Reuters said 11 Friday"U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has suspended its efforts to win congressional approval for his Asian free-trade deal before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, saying on Friday that TPP's fate was up to Trump and Republican lawmakers."

November 12, 2016 4:35 pm----------------------------------------Useless Pinky created a lot of work for nothing.How many paid man-hours wasted on TPP?How much money wasted on TPP?

Wish the 70% brain dead will elect a leader who knows how to work smart.

When Pinky meets Trump at the White House, Trump would vomit in his face because Trump simply cannot stand seeing an Elitist Elite who has never accomplished anything in his entire life, except a piece of paper from Cambridge University, and sit on a throne his father prepared and gold-plated for him.

If any Pseudo Politician of Singapore were to go to the US to tell that TPP is good for USA, and that it would damage USA's image and reputation, if TPP is cancelled, that Pseudo Politician had better think not twice or three times, but 100 times, before he even open his lips to whisper into Trump's ears.

Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, another member of the SPP, described the Ministerial Committee as a “tragic joke”. “It is like the Boss of ...

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